Ian Thorpe's courage will inspire others, says Matthew Mitcham

Eryk Bagshaw

Fellow athletes have rallied behind Ian Thorpe's decision to reveal he is gay and say his choice to come out is a significant step forward for others struggling to be open about their sexuality.

Australian diver Matthew Mitcham came out as gay before winning a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics, but said Thorpe's enormous fame meant his revelation was unprecedented in terms of the impact it would have.

Matthew Mitcham says he was not surprised that Thorpe denied the claims for so long.

“There is no precedent, not on this scale,” said Mitcham. “It must have been a very harrowing ordeal.”

Thorpe is among the most successful athletes in Australian history, with five Olympic gold medals. He has been stalked by speculation about his sexuality since he burst on to the international swimming scene when he was just 15.